irvoyance. If the feeling was experienced previous to the fact then
it is a case of premonition only, and, if after, the whole thing can be
explained as mere telepathy."
"Oh," said Aunt Caroline. But she said it thoughtfully. Her voice was
normal.
"Wonderful thing--this psychic sense," went on her nephew. "Fancy
you're knowing all about it even before you got my letter!"
"Did you send a letter?" asked Aunt Caroline after a pause. "Why Aunt!
Of course. Two of them. Before and after. But I might have known you
would hardly need them. If you had only arrived a few days sooner, you
might have been present at the ceremony."
"Ceremony? There was a ceremony?"
"My dear Aunt!"
"The Church service?"
"My dear Aunt!"
"In a church?"
"Not exactly a church. You see it was rather late in the evening. The
care-taker had gone to bed. In fact we had to get the Rector out of
his."
"Bern's!"
"He didn't mind. Said he'd sleep all the better for it. And he wore his
gown--over his pyjamas--very effective."
"Had the man no conscientious scruples?" sternly.
"Scruples--against pyjamas?"
"Against mixed marriages."
"I don't know. I didn't ask him. We weren't discussing the ethics of
mixed marriage."
"Don't pretend to misunderstand me, Benis. For a man who has married an
Indian, your levity is disgraceful."
"How ridiculous, Aunt! If you will listen to an explanation--"
"I need no explanation," Aunt Caroline, once more mistress of herself
rose majestically. "I hope I know an Indian when I see one. I am not
blind, I believe. But as there seems to be no question as to the
marriage, I have nothing further to say. Another woman in my place
might feel justified in voicing a just resentment, but I have made it a
rule to expect nothing from any relative, especially if that relative
be, even partially, a Spence. When my poor, dear sister married your
father I told her what she was doing. And she lived to say, 'Caroline,
you were right!' That was my only reward. More I have never asked. All
that I have ever required of my sister's child has been ordinary
docility and reliance upon my superior sense and judgment. Now when I
find that, in a matter so serious as marriage, neither my wishes nor my
judgment have been considered, I am not surprised. I may be shocked,
outraged, overwhelmed, but I am not surprised."
"Bravo!" said Benis involuntarily. He couldn't help feeling that Aunt
Caroline was really going strong. "Wha
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